After 23 years of being a football coach at Detroit Catholic Central, Dan Anderson is stepping away from the program. After spending the previous six seasons as head coach of the team, Anderson is content with stepping away from the sport that has consumed a big portion of his life every fall for the last 30 years.
“Why now? You know, it’s just time,” Anderson said. “It’s time for me to move on. You know, I’ve done it for 30 years, coaching. If you add in the years I’ve played, I’ve never been anywhere in the fall besides with a football team. You know, I’m not getting any younger.”
The start of Dan Anderson’s coaching career in high school football began after he finished his playing days at the University of Pittsburgh. The start of his coaching career saw him go from place to place in his first seven years. He had coaching stops at his alma mater Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton, Ohio, at Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret, Md., and at Penn Hills High School just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa.
But Detroit Catholic Central finally became a long-lasting home. Now 53 years old, Anderson has been a coach at Detroit Catholic Central for nearly half his life.
Anderson was thankful to be brought into the program and coach alongside former Catholic Central head coach Tom Mach. Anderson took the reins from Mach in 2017, as Mach finished his head-coaching career after 41 seasons with a 370-93 career record, which ranks fourth all-time in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s record books for career wins.
Despite the big shoes to fill, Anderson was grateful for Mach’s mentorship while also having the ability to work with so many great athletes and individuals.
“I don’t know if you could ask for anything better,” Anderson said. “My experience there with the people – to me, it’s about the relationships at the end of the day. Everything else fades but those relationships stay strong. When I announced my retirement, it was very nice to see all the ex-players that reached out to me and coaches. It’s kind of nice.”
In his time as an assistant under Mach, Anderson was a part of eight state finals appearances and four championships among them. After taking the head position in 2017, Anderson went on to compile a 44-21 record in six seasons with three district championships, a region title, and a Catholic League title.
Of course, there are many memories to take with him as well.
He remembers two overtime matchups with Canton in the playoffs, one in 2009 and the other in 2017. In 2009, Catholic Central beat Canton, 31-24, and went on to win the state championship. In 2017, Anderson’s first season as head coach, Catholic Central stopped Canton on the goal line for a thrilling 27-26 win and a region title.
“I’m just taking it all in,” Anderson said. “There are a lot of great memories, you know?”
Despite all the success he has had at Catholic Central, Anderson hopes he is remembered for more than wins or trophies.
“I hope people remember me as a good, upstanding honest person and I did things the right way,” Anderson said.
Although Anderson said he will continue to teach at the school, continuing to teach history, government, and a class about the Holocaust.
He has not been asked yet if he wants to have a hand in finding his successor, but he said he will consider it if approached about it.
Mainly, Anderson just hopes not having to worry about the demands and time commitment of football will give him more opportunities to spend time and travel with his four adult children.
“It’s good that we can all travel together now,” Anderson said. “I’m just kind of looking forward to not having all that responsibility anymore… I just think now is the right time.”
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